Nielsen defends Ponting tactics

Tim Nielsen (left) maintains Ricky Ponting's concern was to fulfill the day's over rate

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Australia coach Tim Nielsen has defended captain Ricky Ponting after he chose to bowl his part-timers at a key stage during the fourth day of the final Test against India on Sunday.

The Australians need to win the match in Nagpur to level the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and had looked to be taking control on a day of see-sawing fortunes when, during the afternoon session, they had reduced India to 166 for six.

But with India on the ropes Ponting, needing to haul in a slow over rate, opted for the pedestrian pace of Michael Hussey along with his spinners after the tea break.

It allowed India the chance to get themselves off the hook and that is exactly what they did as captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh combined for a 108-run stand to wrest the advantage back India’s way.

And although Australia finally did bowl India out for 295, they face an unlikely victory target of 383 on the final day to win the Test.

"At the end of the day he's got a responsibility to ensure we're bowling the overs we have to bowl,” Nielsen said of Ponting who had faced a one-Test suspension had the Australians not drawn level with the over rate.

“There's a responsibility for all teams to make sure they bowl the 90 overs in a day that's required in the spirit of the game.

“That was Ricky's challenge. We'd gone slowly before the (tea) break and we had to try and catch that up.”

Dhoni admitted he was relieved to face Australia’s second string attack at a crucial stage of the day’s play.

"It is great when you get to face part-timers when you are not in a good position,” he said before admitting Ponting had found himself in a difficult position.

Three strong characters: Harbhajan Singh looks on as Billy Bowden (left) and Ponting (centre) discuss

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"Australia don't have a second specialist spinner, so there is always a threat when you bowl too many pacemen and don't think about the over rate early in the day.”

India had been cruising after an opening stand of 116 between Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay, but all-rounder Shane Watson struck to remove the latter and prompt an Indian collapse of six wickets for 50 runs.

The Queenslander continually troubled the Indians, before finishing with 4-42, while debutant spinner Jason Krejza added another four wickets to his first innings tally of eight.

But the key partnership of the day came between Dhoni (55) and Harbhajan (52) and the India skippered admitted that rearguard had helped them to a total he was comfortable defending.

"In the morning, we were ready to set them a target of about 360 in 90 overs," Dhoni said.

"But we faced a tough situation at tea and it's not the kind of scenario you are happy with. We lost quick wickets, but in the end we were happy with the amount of runs we got.”

Dhoni said his bowlers will need to start well in tomorrow’s morning session, when Australia will resume on 13 for none.

"We need a good start from the fast bowlers," he said.

"Zaheer (Khan) and Ishant (Sharma) have bowled well throughout the series and the sort of start they give us tomorrow morning will dictate the course of play.

"Given the fact that we lost six wickets in a heap, chasing four runs per over on a fifth day track is not going to be easy.

"The ball will also go soft and there will be wear and tear on the wicket.

"It's quite a difficult (task) but not impossible (to achieve).

"But, we are not worried what the opponents will do; we want to do what we are supposed to do."